Re: CHAT: oldest known records of vernacular languages [was Re:

Quoting John Cowan <jcowan@...>:

> Ray Brown scripsit:
> > But if we're talking about the longest tradition of vernacular writing,
> > then Greek beats all these youngsters by a long way.
>
> For sure.  Of languages written today, I suppose that only
> Chinese beats it.
Perhaps I have not been clear.  My purpose in using the word
"vernacular" was in contradistinction to "classical", i.e.,
learned languages after the fall of Rome.  Of course Greek
constitutes a much older tradition, since Ancient Greek
orthography still influences modern Greek Dimotiki, and of
course, Chinese beats even that.  But this wasn't my question.

=====================================================================
Thomas Wier          "...koruphàs hetéras hetére:isi prosápto:n /
Dept. of Linguistics  mú:tho:n mè: teléein atrapòn mían..."
University of Chicago "To join together diverse peaks of thought /
1010 E. 59th Street   and not complete one road that has no turn"
Chicago, IL 60637     Empedocles, _On Nature_, on speculative thinkers

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